Final countdown to Alianait is on
‘Random chaos’ behind the scenes at arts festival, as almost everything unfolds according to plan, say organizers
Grace Metuq, left, and Naja Pearce enjoy the “random chaos” behind the scenes Monday, as organizers and volunteers prepare for the Alianait Arts Festival, which runs Thursday through Sunday. (Photo by Daron Letts)
With four days to go before the Alianait Arts Festival fills downtown Iqaluit with live music and other performances, “random chaos” reigns behind the scenes.
And that’s a good thing, says co-organizer Naja Pearce.
Angunnguaq Larsen of Nuuk, Greenland, left, and Benjamin Arnaqaq of Pangnirtung work at the site of the Alianait Arts Festival in downtown Iqaluit on Monday. (Photo by Daron Letts)
“We do very random things, but we also get things done at the end of the day,” said Pearce, one of two administrative trainees on the organizing committee, as she took a break from painting a boulder purple on Friday.
“It’s chaotic, but it’s fun.”
Approximately 100 volunteers and more than 30 circumpolar performers are checking in to the festival grounds in the Nakasuk School parking lot this week.
The festival’s signature purple and yellow big-top tent, erected Friday, is abuzz from morning to night.
Pearce is at the centre of the storm, alongside fellow administrative trainee Grace Metuq and sound tech trainee Benjamin Arnaqaq, both of whom are from Pangnirtung.
Pearce and Metuq work together. Arnaqaq is working closely with a team of professional sound technicians visiting from Nuuk, Greenland. Joining them will be Allan Kangok, a second sound technician trainee flying in from Igloolik.
“We have critical mass,” said festival co-executive director Andrew Morrison Monday in an on-site interview Monday. “We have had a big spike in volunteerism.”
School and community groups are stepping up, he said.
All is unfolding according to plan, save for a few wrinkles in travel itineraries for some artists.
Despite the strong volunteer turnout this week, more volunteers are always encouraged, Pearce said.
“If you want to help, then you’re more than welcome to just come down to this parking lot and we’ll for sure have something for you to do,” she said.
The festival begins with an exhibition of work by Greenlandic photographer Inuuteq Storch at Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum at 6 p.m. on Thursday, followed by AliaNIGHT at the Movies at 7 p.m., which features a trio of films relating to the festival’s theme of pisiit, or Inuit songs.
On Friday, Blackheart Café is scheduled to host a pop-up concert at noon, followed by a festival kick-off party at the Aquatic Centre from 3:45 p.m. until 6 p.m.
The main stage concert under the big top begins at 7 p.m. on Friday.
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